Preston Nightsafe Conditional Caution Alcohol Awareness Pilot Project: Outcome Evaluation Final Report September 2008 (11th December 2008)
The Centre for Public Health was commissioned to conduct an evaluation of Preston’s Nightsafe Conditional Caution Alcohol Awareness Project. The outcome evaluation sought to analyse empirical data in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the alcohol brief intervention and therefore the Alcohol Conditional Caution as a whole, primarily in terms of client rehabilitation and re-offending rates. The alcohol brief intervention gave statistical and descriptive information about the social and physiological consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, as well as providing advice on unit intake. Given here are the quantitative outcomes of this evaluation.
Report
Local Alcohol Profiles for England (18th December 2008)
The latest Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) are released today for the third year running by the North West Public Health Observatory at the Centre for Public Health. These profiles contain 23 measures of the burden that alcohol has on local communities. They include the Government’s national indicator – hospital admissions for alcohol related harm (NI 39) – as well as other measures such as alcohol related deaths, crime and incapacity benefit claimants.
Alcohol Profiles
Audit Commission Audit Practice Annual Quality Report (19 December 2008)
This is the annual report on the Audit Commission’s Audit practice, including its structure and governance and its systems for ensuring audit quality.
Annual Report
Work programme and scales of fees 2009/10 and indicative fee proposals for 2010/11 and 2011/12 (Health) (19th December 2008)
This document sets out the scales of audit and inspection fees for the work that the Audit Commission plans to undertake in the health sector during 2009/10.
Document
Saving lives through screening. NHS Breast Cancer screening programme annual review 2008 (December 2008)
In this year’s review, a year which the Breast Cancer screening programme celebrated its 20th anniversary, they look back at how the programme has evolved and also look forward to future developments. Statistics for 2006/07 are also included.
Review
Rehabilitation measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2008 (17th December 2008)
Letter announcing the publication of the rehabilitation measures.
Letter
New measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004
Children’s Plan: One Year On - Progress Report (11th December 2008)
The Children’s Plan sets out how the Government is trying to meet the challenges facing children, young people and families today, to make this the best place in the world to grow up. This publication examines what has been achieved through the Children’s Plan thus far, and sets out the steps to be taken in the future.
Report
Summary
Better communication: Improving services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (17th December 2008)
Following the review of services for children and young people with SLCN by John Bercow MP, the Government published this action plan. The Action Plan provides details of a range of initiatives across Government to improve services for children and young people with SLCN, culminating in the National Year of Speech, Language and Communication in 2011-12.
Action Plan
Letter to LAs
Written Ministerial Statement
Press Release
Intelligence to Support World Class Commissioning (December 2008)
These are the presentations from a recent event, Intelligence to Support World Class Commissioning, which was run by The East Midlands Public Health Observatory (EMPHO).
Presentation
Using the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework (8th December 2008)
High Quality Care for All included a commitment to make a proportion of providers’ income conditional on quality and innovation, through the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework. This document introduces the CQUIN payment framework in context. It describes the framework, setting out the timetable and scope, before explaining the content that local schemes should cover, how the framework is funded, an outline of how the process for using the framework might work, and the support and assurance for local schemes.
Document
Towards healthier, fairer and safer communities - connecting people to prevent violence: a Framework for Violence and Abuse Prevention (11th December 2008)
The Department of Health is developing a Framework for Violence and Abuse Prevention. An engagement event was held on 25 November 2008. Presentations/Documents from the event are now available.
Presentation
Tackling Knives Programme (11th December 2008)
The Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) is an £2m intensive, cross-government action programme which committed to take swift action to reduce incidents of death and serious violence among teenagers. The programme, launched in June 2008 will run until 31st March 2009.
Information
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: consultation on the Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring and Reporting) and (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisation, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (19th December 2008)
These draft regulations confer power on the Care Quality Commission for the purpose of monitoring, and reporting on, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The draft regulations also amend regulation 3 of the Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) Regulations 2008. Regulation 3 currently sets out that one of the requirements for a person to be eligible to carry out a MCA DOLS assessment is that they must be insured in respect of any liabilities arising in connection with carrying out the assessment. We are proposing to amend this regulation so that assessors will be eligible if they have satisfied the supervisory body that they have adequate and appropriate insurance and / or indemnity arrangements in place. Closing date for comments is 30th January 2009.
Consultation Document
Impact Assessment
Manual for Cancer Services: draft complementary therapy measures - consultation version (16th December 2008)
The purpose of this consultation exercise is to ensure that the published Complementary Therapy Cancer Measures are both comprehensive and clear. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2009.
Covering letter
Consultation document
Questionnaire
Impact Assessment
General Dental Council (Constitution) Order 2009: a paper for consultation (16th December 2008)
This draft Order sets out a proposed constitution for the General Dental Council (GDC). It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office for council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office. The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order makes a number of changes to the constitutional arrangements for the General Dental Council. Instead of the constitutional details of the GDC being set out in the Dentists Act 1984, these details must now be set out in a separate Constitution Order made by the Privy Council. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2009.
Consultation document
Draft order
Draft Appointment Directions
Questionnaire
Impact Assessment
The use of 084 telephone numbers in the NHS (16th December 2008)
The Department of Health is considering prohibiting the use of 084 numbers in the NHS. This consultation document seeks views from all interested parties on the future use of 084 numbers in the NHS. Closing date for comments is 31st March 2008.
Consultation
2020 Children’s and Young People’s Workforce Strategy (16th December 2008)
The children and young people’s workforce strategy sets out a vision for 2020 in which everyone who works with children and young people is: ambitious for every child and young person, excellent in their practice, committed to partnership and integrated working, and respected and valued as professionals. The Government’s ambition is that all children and young people should achieve their full potential across all the Every Child Matters outcomes: staying safe; being healthy; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution and achieving economic wellbeing. Closing date for comments is 10th March 2009.
Consultation
Tomorrow’s Doctors 2009: a draft for consultation (15th December 2008)
Tomorrow's Doctors sets the standards expected of medical schools for the delivery of teaching, learning and assessment and lists the outcomes that medical students must demonstrate before graduation. It was last published in 2003 and has been redrafted to take account of major developments, including the publication of a new edition of Good Medical Practice in 2006, the coming merger of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) with the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2010, and the creation of the Foundation Programme. The redraft reflects research findings, the GMC's quality assurance of medical schools and extensive engagement with key interests.
Consultation
Introduction of foundation training to dentistry (17th December 2008)
To help the Department of Health assess the funding that would be required for the introduction of foundation training to dentistry, NHS Hospital Trusts and other provider organisations employing dentists are asked to submit details of any dental SHO posts in oral and maxillofacial surgery and in dental departments.
Document
Department of Health autumn performance report 2008 (15th December 2008)
This is the Department’s first report on progress of its Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 Public Service Agreement (PSA) and Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSO) commitments. It also covers, as required by Treasury guidance, reporting progress against our legacy PSA targets which have not been subsumed by more recent PSAs, our value for money target and any outstanding recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee, which holds departments to account for their public spending.
Report
Simplification plan: year three (10th December 2008)
This is the third Department of Health Simplification Plan. It contains measures that demonstrate how the Department of Health, and Arms Length Bodies are reducing the regulation burden on stakeholders. The key areas are the health and adult social care registration system, commitment to 30% reduction in data burden on frontline, and work with the third sector to delivery health and care services.
Document
Hepatitis C in the UK. The Health Protection Agency Annual Report 2008 (10th December 2008)
According to a new report released today by the Health Protection Agency, many hepatitis C infections in the UK stem from recreational injecting drug use that began in the 1960s.
Report
Financial Management in the NHS: Report on the NHS Summarised Accounts 2007-08 (16th December 2008)
This report provides a commentary on the financial position of the NHS as a whole and considers the financial management issues facing NHS bodies. The report focuses on the overall surplus that was achieved, the action taken by the DH and NHS bodies to achieve it, as well as providing an overview of the financial management arrangements.
Report
Christmas Lunch Unwrapped (15th December 2008)
The Food Standards Agency has issued its top tips for a safer Christmas lunch to help everyone enjoy a healthier festive season.
Tips
Review of LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) carried out by Caroline Rassell, finance director of North East Essex PCT (9th December 2008)
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for a copy of the review, the Department of Health replied that it expected the review to be available by the end of November. The review is now available.
Review
Guidance for strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and GP practices: the new expanded GP patient survey 2008/09 (19th December 2008)
The new survey has been developed with Ipsos MORI and academics from the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre and the Peninsular Medical School. Around 5½ million registered patients in England will be invited to take part during January to March 2009. Their responses will provide even more valuable information for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), GP practices and other patients about patient’s experiences when they access local services.
Guidance
The gender and access to Health Services study: final report (18th December 2008)
The Department of Health commissioned the Men’s Health Forum to undertake a study into the different ways women and men access health services with a view to providing an evidence base to help determine key gender health priorities for the Department and the NHS.
Document
State of Healthcare 2008 (11th December 2008)
After five years of regulating the sector, the Healthcare Commission is publishing its last report to Parliament on the overall state of healthcare in England and Wales. The independent watchdog applauded improvements in the NHS and called for further efforts to enhance the quality of care and make services more patient-centred.
Full Report
Summary Report
More information on State of Healthcare 2008
Why do people think inequality is worse than poverty? (10th December 2008)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF's) recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ‘socialevils’ on the theme of ‘inequality’. Jeremy Seabrook argues that, in the face of extraordinary imbalances in society, the myth that accumulating wealth is the supreme human purpose needs to be replaced before any improvement will occur.
Viewpoint
Opportunity and aspiration: two sides of the same coin? (10th December 2008)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF's) recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern 'social evils' on the theme of 'inequality'. Chris Creegan argues that until we can reconcile the problems of excessive individualism, consumerism and greed at the heart of contemporary society, life opportunities will continue to be lost, limited and wasted.
Viewpoint
Five types of inequality (10th December 2008)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF's) recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern 'social evils' on the theme of 'inequality'. Ferdinand Mount takes a wide view of the causes and possible cures of injurious inequalities, looking at five overlapping types of inequalities and how to remedy them.
Viewpoint
Informatics planning 2009/10 (8th December 2008)
The NHS Operating Framework for 2009/10 outlines the need for informatics planning with board level ownership and support to deliver information enabled service transformation. This document, which includes a link to supporting tools for Chief Executives and other key stakeholders, provides further guidance. The national expectations contained in this document should be used by all NHS organisations to refresh and re-focus their informatics plans.
Document
What are the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards? (15th December 2008)
This leaflet provides a brief general introduction to the MCA DOLS and has been specifically designed for care homes and hospitals to help staff understand what the MCA DOLS will mean for them and for their service users.
Leaflet
Independent mental health advocates (19th December 2008)
From April 2009, statutory access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) will be available to patients subject to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. IMHAs are an important new safeguard that will help and support patients to understand and exercise their legal rights. IMHAs will be available to most detained patients as well as patients on supervised community treatment or guardianship. Other patients whose treatment is subject to the special safeguards provided by the Act, will also be eligible for the services of IMHAs.
Information
What are the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards? (15th December 2008)
This leaflet provides a brief general introduction to the MCA DOLS and has been specifically designed for care homes and hospitals to help staff understand what the MCA DOLS will mean for them and for their service users.
Leaflet
Independent mental health advocates (19th December 2008)
From April 2009, statutory access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) will be available to patients subject to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. IMHAs are an important new safeguard that will help and support patients to understand and exercise their legal rights. IMHAs will be available to most detained patients as well as patients on supervised community treatment or guardianship. Other patients whose treatment is subject to the special safeguards provided by the Act, will also be eligible for the services of IMHAs.
Information
Engaging with patients via NHS Choices (December 2008)
This guide is aimed at helping trusts maximise the benefits of the patient feedback facility on NHS Choices.
Guide
National Training Programme (NTP) in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: supporting NICE Technology Appraisal (2006) recommendations for laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer (17th December 2008)
As part of the Cancer Reform Strategy implementation plans the Department of Health and the National Cancer Action Team have developed and funded a programme to train colorectal surgeons to a level of competence in laparoscopic surgery to perform such procedures independently and safely.
Publication
The National Health Service Constitution: report of the Constitutional Advisory Forum to the Secretary of State for Health (11th December 2008)
The Department of Health published a draft NHS Constitution on 30 June 2008. The proposed Constitution will safeguard the core principles and values of the NHS for the next generation, whilst setting a clear direction for the future. It reaffirms rights to NHS services, free of charge and with equal access for all, and it enshrines patient rights to choice and to NICE-approved drugs recommended by clinicians.
Publication
The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance (10th December 2008)
These documents represent Annex D to the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10 and should be read in conjunction with The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/09 Annex D - Principles and rules for co-operation and competition December 2007.
Document
NICE Technology Appraisals (15th December 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is acknowledged as a world leader in its field, yet the prevailing media image of NICE is as a controversial mechanism for denying patients expensive new drugs. Teresa Poole looks at how NICE appraises new and existing drugs through clinical and economic evidence and looks at the impact of those appraisals, including difficulties with implementation of the recommendations. The briefing, published by King’s Fund, assesses recent policy proposals to address the system's perceived shortcomings, including speeding up appraisals, setting a suitable threshold for cost-effectiveness and overcoming the problem of 'postcode prescribing', where there are significant geographical disparities in the availability of individual drugs not covered by NICE guidance.
Briefing
Latest Implementation Tools (10th December 2008)
These are the latest implementation tools to help with previously published NICE Guidance.
Lung cancer (non-small-cell) - erlotinib Costing Statement and Audit Support
Metastatic spinal cord compression Costing Report, Costing Template and Slide Set
Transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence Audit Support
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Implementation Advice
Febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in people with gout Technology Appraisal TA164 (17th December 2008)
Febuxostat is recommended as a possible treatment for chronic hyperuricaemia in people with gout only if: they can't take the medicine allopurinol for medical reasons or the side effects of allopurinol are so bad that the person either has to stop taking it or can't be given the most effective dose. People who were already taking febuxostat when the guidance was issued should be able to carry on taking it until they and their healthcare professional(s) decide that it is the right time to stop treatment.
Guidance
Infliximab for the treatment of acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis Technology Appraisal TA163 (17th December 2008)
Infliximab is recommended as a possible treatment for people with acute, severely active ulcerative colitis only if: ciclosporin is considered inappropriate for them, or they are taking part in a research study (clinical trial)
Guidance
When to suspect child maltreatment: guideline consultation (16th December 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on “ When to suspect child maltreatment” is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations. Closing date for comments is 10th February 2009.
Consultation
An RCN toolkit for school nurses. Developing your practice to support children and young people in educational settings (15th December 2008)
The publication aims to highlight the role of the school nurse and to disseminate best practice. It includes guidance on school health profiling, which are the assessment of a whole school's health with action plans and questionnaires. The title also covers infection control, travel health, safeguarding children and risk assessment.
Publication
Joint letter from CMO and CNO inviting health care professionals to order Change4Life support materials (18th December 2008)
This is a joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer to health care professionals, inviting them to support Change4Life, as well as order resources for the launch in January 2009.
Letter
Support materials
Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A cross-government research and surveillance plan for England (17th December 2008)
This document sets out the government plan for development of additional research and surveillance focused on obesity, overweight, and their determinants in England. The goal is to achieve co-ordinated action across government to deliver an evidence base for national policy-makers.
Document
Pandemic influenza: guidance for primary care trusts and primary care professionals on the provision of healthcare in a community setting in England (18th December 2008)
The purpose of this updated guidance is to assist primary care trusts (PCTs) in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. It is also intended to be a useful document for primary care professionals such as those working in general practice, community pharmacy and nursing, and for partner agencies providing services in the community setting.
Guidance
Pandemic influenza: guidance on preparing maternity services (10th December 2008)
This document identifies key issues and provides a guidance framework to enable and support the decisions on prioritisation that maternity services providers in hospitals; general practices and community care will need to take during a pandemic, covering the period from conception to just after birth.
Guidance
Report of the second phase of the review of NHS pathology services in England (18th December 2008)
The report of the second phase of the independent review of NHS pathology services in England has been published together the Department of Health's response to recommendations made by the review.
Report
Department of Health’s Response
Meeting the healthcare needs of Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans (16th December 2008)
This new leaflet is designed to help regular Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans to understand how to access the health services they need, and what to do if things go wrong. The leaflet applies to health services in England.
Leaflet
Graft versus host disease. A guide for families (December 2008)
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), in which the cells from the bone marrow or stem cell donor (graft) react to the cells in the patient (host). This booklet has been written to give you simple, precise definitions of GvHD and to help you to understand the implications of GvHD and its possible treatments. The booklet is designed to compliment the information given by the nurses and doctors, who will be able to give you information specific to you/your child. You should never be afraid to ask questions.
Booklet
Reporting and Learning System (RLS) Data Summary - Issue 10 (November 2008)
This quarterly publication, from National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), sets out the number of patient safety incident reports received, and describes patterns and trends in these incidents.
Data Summary
Workbook to accompany Data Summary
Payment by Results 2009-10 road-testing package (10th December 2008)
This package is made available for the NHS to road-test the 2009-10 national tariff. Organisations need to consider all the materials provided prior to road-testing the new tariff. Key information is included in the guidance and associated annexes, which needs to be considered alongside the tariff.
Covering letter
Package
The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (16th December 2008)
The 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (the scheme) is a non-contractual scheme, effective from the termination of the 2008 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (the 2008 PPRS) on 31st December 2008. The parties to this agreement are the Department of Health, acting on behalf of the health departments of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (the ABPI).
Document
Guidance on Maintaining Clear Sexual Boundaries: Expanding on the Principles of the Code of Ethics (9th December 2008)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has published new guidance on maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries with both patients and their carers. The guidance covers a number of areas, including behaviours which may be perceived as sexually inappropriate, the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, how to avoid breaches of sexual boundaries and the use of chaperones.
Guidance
Developing the NHS LifeCheck. A summary of the evidence base (19th December 2008)
This publication provides an overview of the research and evidence gathered at each stage of the development of NHS LifeCheck so far. It summarises NHS LifeCheck’s policy background and how it fits with and supports the wider healthcare reform agenda.
Publication
Invitation to Transforming community services: towards healthy change (17th December 2008)
The Transforming Community Services (TCS) programme is hosting a launch event in London on 13 January, designed to help strengthen and benchmark the business processes and staff capabilities of PCT community services. The TCS programme is a major element in the primary and community care vision as set out in ‘High Quality Care for All’.
Information
Resource allocation: weighted capitation formula - sixth edition (15th December 2008)
This is the sixth edition of a booklet which describes the weighted capitation formula used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Booklet
Common Assessment Framework for Adults - A consultation on proposals to improve information sharing around multidisciplinary assessment and care planning (18th December 2008)
Letter alerting recipients to the start of the consultation in January 2008, and inviting contributions through the online consultation facility or by attending one of the regional consultation events being held over the coming months.
Information
National Child Measurement Programme: results from the school year 2007/08 (11th December 2008)
Summary Report
Data Tables
Online Database
Affordable Housing Supply, England, 2007-08 (18th December 2008)
Housing Statistics 2008 (11th December 2008)
Quarterly Reporting Results for MRSA bacteraemia, July - September 2008 (18th December 2008)
Tables
Press Release
Statutory Homelessness: 3rd Quarter (July to September) 2008, England (11th December 2008)
Report
Tables 1-10
Supplementary tables
Health Survey for England 2007: Healthy Lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (16th December 2008)
Summary of key findings
Volume 1: Report
Volume 2 - Methodology and Documentation
Monthly Digest of Statistics, December 2008 (22nd December 2008)
Community Care Statistics 2007-08: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care for Adults, England - National Summary (18th December 2008)
Personal Social Services Survey of Adults Receiving Community Equipment and Minor Adaptations, 2007-08 (18th December 2008)
Report
Annex Tables
Cancer Statistics Registrations 2006 (18th December 2008)
Labour Market Statistics - December 2008 (17th December 2008)
The distribution of household income 1977 to 2006/07 (16th December 2008)
The redistribution of household income 1977 to 2006/07 (16th December 2008)
Birth Statistics 2007 (15th December 2008)
Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: month ending 31st October 2008 and diagnostics census for quarter ending September 2008 (10th December 2008)
Commissioner based
Provider based
Quarterly census
Cancer survival in England, patients diagnosed 2000-2004 followed up to 2005 (10th December 2008)
NHS Next Stage Review: what it means for the Third Sector (12th December 2008)
Summary of the Next Stage Review and how the third sector can be involved in local planning and service delivery.
Summary
Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future (10th December 2008)
Following the publication of the Welfare Reform Green Paper “No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility” in July 2008, the Department for Work and Pensions held a consultation. This White Paper sets out how they plan to take their proposals forward.
White Paper
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 ( 27th November 2008)
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 13 November 2008.
Act
The health of our hospitals revealed - Hospital Guide 2008 (November 2008)
Dr Foster reveals the health of our hospitals in the annual Hospital Guide. This year’s report focuses on three dimensions of quality: patient safety, effectiveness of care and patient experience. Key findings include: market reforms beginning to bite in the NHS; another year where overall mortality ratios have fallen; wide variations in access to cancer treatments and more.
Hospital Guide
The impact of alcohol in Greater Manchester: quarterly report November 2008 (1st December 2008)
This report identifies available alcohol intelligence across Greater Manchester.
Report
Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: early summary findings from the NorthWest Big Drink Debate (5th December 2008)
Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: early summary findings from the NorthWest Big Drink Debate.
Findings
Cancer reform strategy: maintaining momentum, building for the future - first annual report on progress (1st December 2008)
In the first annual report of the Cancer Reform Strategy, Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, sets out the considerable amount of progress made in implementing the strategy since its publication in December 2007. The report covers the wide range of actions that were set out in the strategy, highlighting areas of particular progress and setting out a range of priorities for the future.
Cover letter Annual Report
Health partnerships: annual report 2007/08, DH International (28th November 2008)
DH International is the specialist team supporting health initiatives overseas, working in partnership with all major stakeholders. DH International sits within the Department of Health’s International Division, which has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the Department’s global and EU business.
Report
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2008 (8th December 2008)
This is the tenth anniversary of MPSE annual reports, which provide an independent assessment of the progress being made in eliminating poverty and social exclusion in Britain. This report uses official government data from a wide range of sources, and is built around a set of 50 indicators. The analysis covers the full range of issues, including material on low income, work, qualifications, health, housing, and exclusion from services. A major theme of this year’s report is comparing progress over the first five years of this government with the most recent five.
Report
Summary
Cancer Incidence by Deprivation England, 1995-2004 (2nd December 2008)
This report, published by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), provided analyses for patients diagnosed in two five-year time periods 1995-99 and 2000-04 for 23 of the more common cancer sites or groups, and for an overall grouping of all malignancies combined (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). Analyses are presented showing the relationship between the incidence of each cancer or cancer group and the relative socio-economic deprivation for males, females and both sexes combined.
Report
Going further on cancer waits (2nd December 2008)
This communication from Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, is targeted at professional colleagues, to explain the new standards for cancer waiting times that come into force on 1 January 2009; and the associated changes in the methodology for collecting and reporting data on those standards.
Information
Integrated Care: Lessons from Evidence and Experience. Report of the 2008 Sir Roger Bannister Annual Health Seminar (21st November 2008)
With an aging population and an increasing prevalence of chronic disease, ever more people require care and support services from organisations that cross the boundaries of health, social care, housing and voluntary organisations. This paper, from The Nuffield Trust, summarises the discussions made by the main speakers at the seminar that was held on the subject of integrated care for people with chronic disease.
Report
Do you recognise pain in someone with a learning difficulty and dementia? (27th November 2008)
A set of resources (from Joseph Rowntree Foundation) to help care staff, GPs and carers to recognise and treat pain in people who have a learning difficulty and dementia. People with learning difficulties are living longer, which means they are more likely to develop the conditions of older age, such as dementia. Someone with a learning difficulty and dementia may not be able to communicate that they are in pain and it can be ignored or mistaken for challenging behaviour.
Poster
Factsheet
Guide for GPs
Guide for care staff and carers
Seeing the person in the patient. The Point of Care Review Paper (December 2008)
The Point of Care programme has been set up to transform patients’ experience of care in hospital, and to enable health care staff to deliver high-quality care. Based on existing research and qualitative studies with patients and families, hospital staff and board members, this report looks at some of the problems that patients experience with their care and at the factors that shape that experience. Assessing the evidence to support various interventions, the King’s Fund suggest initiatives that have the potential to create sustainable change in patients’ care.
Report
Child Protection and the Ofsted Joint Area Review report on safeguarding of children in Haringey (1st December 2008)
Statement in covering letter from David Nicholson on child protection and the Ofsted Joint Area Review report on safeguarding of children in Haringey
Letter
Review
Practice-based Commissioning: Reinvigorate, replace or abandon? (November 2008)
Practice-based commissioning (PBC) is one of the cornerstones of health policy reform, but has it delivered its intended benefits? Its objectives were to encourage clinical engagement in service redesign and development, improve services for patients and make better use of resources. Through in-depth interviews with GPs, hospital and primary care trust staff in four sites, this report assesses the progress of PBC and identifies the barriers that are limiting success. Using the evidence from the four case studies and from previous research, it suggests ways forward for policy-makers.
Report
Commissioning and Behaviour Change. Kicking Bad Habits Final Report (8th December 2008)
Unhealthy behaviours – smoking, alcohol misuse, poor diet, lack of exercise – lead to ill health, with resulting costs to individuals, to the NHS and to society as a whole. PCTs are expected to commission support to help people change their behaviour to adopt more health lifestyles – but what should that support be? The Kicking Bad Habits programme was launched to identify effective interventions. Drawing on a series of working papers and seminars, this report assesses existing and innovative methods the health service can use to persuade people to adopt more healthy lifestyles, including providing information, personal support and financial and other incentives.
Report
Practice-based Commissioning Development Framework (1st December 2008)
The Department of Health has established a PBC Development Framework, which SHAs, PCTs and practice-based commissioners (PBCs) can now use to appoint appropriately skilled organisations to provide a range of PBC capability development support.
Framework
Driven by Dogma? Outsourcing in the health service (5th December 2008)
This report, published by the Office for Public Management (OPM), draws on the experiences of NHS senior managers and commissioners to highlight the complexity of the commissioning process and the problems of coping with the mountains of bureaucracy and paperwork attached to it.
Report
Safe. Sensible. Social. Consultation on further action: Consultation Report - December 2008 (3rd December 2008)
Government consulted between July - October 2008 on whether to strengthen standards for the responsible production and sale of alcohol, and on whether the NHS could improve advice and support for those that need it. A summary of responses to the consultation has been published.
Response
Original Consultation
Consultation on the future of tobacco control: consultation report: December 2008 (9th December 2008)
The Department of Health published a consultation paper entitled 'Consultation on the future of tobacco control', on 31 May 2008. This consultation was the first step in developing a new national tobacco control strategy. The consultation closed on 8 September and this report summarises the responses which were received. It aims to provide a representative summary of all the responses, drawing out key themes and messages. The consultation report has been provided to Ministers to support their decision-making on future tobacco control policy.
Response
Original Consultation
Reform of health and social care complaints: proposed changes to the legislative framework (5th December 2008)
The complaints arrangements for health and social care are being reformed. Successive reports have found that some complaints take too long to resolve and services do not systematically try to learn from the important feedback that complaints offer. In addition, there is strong evidence that some people do not complain because they either do not know how to or believe doing so will not result in any action. There has been ongoing consultation about these plans since the launch of the 'Making Experiences Count' consultation in June 2007. Closing date for comments is 6th January 2009.
Consultation document
Feedback form
Feedback events
Making experience count - response to consultation
The future of the healthcare science workforce. Modernising scientific careers, the next steps: a consultation (26th November 2008)
This consultation document sets out proposals to transform the future training and career pathways of the healthcare science workforce. These proposals have been developed as the result of detailed discussions with nearly 3,000 stakeholders. This UK initiative will be taken forward by the four countries in partnership with all major stakeholders, including patient groups, to ensure that the healthcare science workforce is fit for the future in a rapidly changing and evolving healthcare environment. Closing date for comments is 6th March 2009.
Consultation document
Impact assessment
MSC online questionnaire
The Health and Safety of Great Britain/Be part of the solution (3rd December 2008)
Health and Safety Executive are running a consultation process on their new strategy. The strategy is looking at the following key areas: need for strong leadership; building competence; involving the workforce; creating healthier, safer workplaces; customising support for SMEs; avoiding catastrophe; and taking a wider perspective. The closing date for comments is 2nd March 2009.
Consultation document
Response Form
Preparing for our ageing society - a discussion paper (25th November 2008)
Within 20 years half of the adult UK population will be over 50. One in four children born today will live beyond 100. These are dramatic shifts that have far-reaching consequences for us all, and our ageing population will change our society in many ways. This discussion paper (from the Department for Work and Pensions), and a series of associated public discussion events, are part of the first stage of a review of the Government’s strategy for meeting the challenges of our ageing society. The next step will be the publication of a more detailed set of ideas in Spring 2009. The DWP want to discuss the issues to be addressed in the strategy and give you the opportunity to tell them what you think is most important for a fulfilling later life. Closing date for comments is 20th January 2009.
Discussion Paper
Response Form
Creating a new professional regulator for pharmacy: health care and associated professions - the draft Pharmacy Order 2009 (9th December 2008)
The draft Pharmacy Order 2009 and consultation document set out proposals to create a new regulator for pharmacy professionals and pharmacy premises in England, Wales and Scotland. The consultation will run from 9 December 2009 and close on 9 March 2009. The final version of the order will then be the subject of an affirmative resolution process in both the Scottish and UK Parliaments.
Consultation
Draft Pharmacy Order 2009
Consultation Response Form
Impact Assessment
Feedback and Events
‘Bronchial Boogie’ to beat asthma (5th December 2008)
Seven to 11-year-olds with asthma meet weekly for Oldham’s ‘Bronchial Boogie’ project. The scheme aims to improve respiratory health and raise self-esteem in seven to 11-year-olds with asthma.
Information
Making sense of: domestic violence (December 2008)
This case study looks at the approaches to the issue of domestic violence that are proven to work, including: The Coordinated Community Response model; Prevention and early intervention; Key role for health services; The WORTH (Ways of Responding through Health) Project, West Sussex; Local and national publicity campaigns; Education in schools and colleges for young people. It also looks at the support available to victims and outlines why these approaches work.
Case Study
Guidance on standards for the establishment and operation of drug consumption rooms in the UK (3rd December 2008)
This report provides essential guidance for local multi-agency partnerships that are contemplating establishing and operating a drug consumption room (DCR) in the UK. A number of local partnerships across England, Wales and Scotland are currently discussing whether or how DCRs might help address their local drug problems. At present there are no DCRs in the UK, however, evidence elsewhere suggests that they can be valuable for engaging marginalised drug users, reducing overdose deaths and can have a beneficial impact on community safety in areas where public drug use is widespread.
Report
Food in School Report (Final) (27th November 2008)
This report, by the partners of The North West School Food Cluster, is a summary of the work of the partners in the North West School Food Cluster in 2007-2008 and outlines the current priorities for 2008.2009.
Report
Bury’s over 50s-scheme (5th December 2008)
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council’s ‘Age of Opportunities’ initiative promotes health and wellbeing for residents aged 50 and over.
Information
Secretary of State report on disability equality: health and care services (1st December 2008)
This report draws on the available evidence and case studies reflecting national, regional and local points of view to assess progress in meeting the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty and remaining areas where more needs to be done across the health and care sector.
Report
Easy-read version
Report of an event hosted by RADAR to enable disabled people and disability organisations to advise the Department of Health
Questionnaire
Insight: Work fit for all - disability, health and the experience of negative treatment in the British workplace (27th November 2008)
The number of people claiming incapacity benefits in Britain has more than doubled over the last 20 years. By comparison with other countries, Britain has large numbers of disabled people and people with long-term illnesses, and proportionately fewer of these people are employed. The Government intends to reverse this trend and move more disabled people and people with long-term illnesses into employment, as outlined in its plans for the new equality bill and the welfare reform green paper. This research shows that disabled people and people with long-term illnesses are more likely to perceive themselves as subject to negative treatment at work, and this has implications for Government policy.
Report
Clarifying Joint Financing Arrangements - A briefing paper for health bodies and local authorities (4th December 2008)
A briefing that demystifies pooled funds and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 and reviews the current range of joint financing arrangements between NHS bodies and local authorities across health and social care. It is the first in a series of publications relating to a national study which is due to be published in spring 2009.
Briefing
IFRS briefing paper 5 - Auditors’ review of the restated 1 April 2008 balance sheet (4th December 2008)
Our fifth NHS IFRS briefing paper considers the work auditors will do in respect of the restatement of the 1 April 2008 balance sheet. The Commission is developing an approach that will focus on the arrangements NHS bodies have put in place to restate the opening balance sheet.
Briefing
Report of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocations (December 2008) (8th December 2008)
A report of the review of the weighted capitation formula, undertaken by the Committee between 2005 and 2008.
Report
Allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (8th December 2008)
The Department of health has, today, announced allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Document
Applying for NHS Foundation Trust status: a guide for applicants (November 2008) (4th December 2008)
This guide for applicants has been developed by Monitor and the Department of Health. It is intended to provide aspirant and applicant acute, specialist, teaching, mental health, ambulance and potential community foundation trusts, with a comprehensive explanation of the NHS foundation trust application process and the requirements for achieving NHS foundation trust status. The document covers all of the stages of the application process from the SHA-led Trust Development Phase and the Secretary of State Support Phase through to Monitor’s assessment process and the application outcome. This document supersedes all previous versions of the guide, including Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status: Guide for Mental Health NHS Trusts.
Guide
Supporting Carers: An action guide for general practitioners and their teams (October 2008)
This Guide was jointly developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, this self-assessment toolkit is designed so that Primary Care Teams can measure themselves against agreed criteria for the services they provide for patients and their carers, particularly focusing on teamwork and practice organisation.
Guide
Carers as Partners (leaflet for GPs)
Carers in Practice (leaflet for carers)
Practice based commissioning GP practice survey (5th December 2008)
This is the fifth quarterly practice survey, covering a sample of practices from each primary care trust (PCT), conducted between September and November 2008. The aims of the survey are to get feedback from practices on their perception of the support offered by their PCT and on the clinical and financial engagement of practices with PBC. The survey is part of a group of indicators that will be assessed together to give a picture of PBC implementation.
Summary of Results
Detailed Results for Primary Care Trusts
Detailed Results for Primary Care Trusts by SHA
Treasury’s Value for Money Assessment for PFI: guidance for NHS Build schemes (29th November 2008)
In August 2004 the Treasury introduced a new approach to appraising the value for money of procurement through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) compared with conventional public capital procurement. This involves undertaking qualitative and quantitative value for money assessments at Outline Business Case (OBC) stage and also a new qualitative value for money assessment between OBC and the Final Confirming Business Case (F(C)BC). Guidance for the NHS was first produced by DH in 2005 after a consultation period - this is now superseded. Treasury changed its own guidance in 2006 and 2007, mainly involving detailed changes in the qualitative assessment, while the quantitative assessment remains fundamentally unchanged save for changes in format and presentation. These have now been incorporated into the new DH guidance and accompanying quantitative VFM model in Excel.
Guidance
VFM Quantitative model
High Street ‘health MOTs’ (5th December 2008)
Following the example of the BBC’s ‘Street Doctor’, the Healthy Living Network has been out and about in disadvantaged parts of Nuneaton. The team has used a large crossing lollipop with the commanding text ‘Stop – health MOT’ to get people to stop and have a health check.
Information
Tackling health inequalities 2005-07 policy and data update for the 2010 national target (4th December 2008)
This document provides an update on progress to meet the health inequalities national target to reduce the gap as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy, by 10% by 2010. It includes an assessment of whether the 70 spearhead area local authorities, which map to 62 PCTs, are on track to meet the life expectancy target.
Document
Becoming European: How France, Germany, Spain and UK engage with European Union Health Policy (20th November 2008)
The UK is not alone in trying to work out how to organise the complex relationships between devolved governments, member states and the European Union in the complex field of health policy. In different ways France, Germany, and Spain are also grappling with these problems. This report, based on extensive interviews with senior policy-makers in the four member states, analyses the political and administrative organisation of their EU engagement from three perspectives: coordination of approach, type of activity, and formal and informal influencing. It looks at the consequences for each member state of its given policy and the lessons that the UK can learn from these, in the context of its own political devolution.
Report
Impact assessment of the reformed CHRE Council (3rd December 2008)
Impact assessment of the Regulations reforming the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence.
Impact Assessment
Count me in 2008. Results of the 2008 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales (27th November 2008)
The findings from the fourth annual census of the ethnicity of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services continue to show that some black and minority ethnic groups are three or more times more likely than average to be admitted as inpatients in mental health services. As a result, the report calls for healthcare providers, local authorities and other statutory agencies to work together to prevent and better manage mental illness in black and minority ethnic groups.
Census
Valuable Lives: Capabilities and Resilience Amongst Single Homeless People (November 2008)
This study, from Crisis, examines the relationship between homeless people's capability and resilience and their capacity to overcome their difficulties.
Report
Executive Summary
A long way from home: mental distress and long-term homelessness - a Good Practice Briefing (December 2008)
From April to October 2007, Shelter conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 22 people at low-threshold homelessness services in Westminster, Doncaster, Liverpool and Manchester. All service users had experienced long-term homelessness and suffered from mental health problems, from chronic or severe to the more ‘common’ mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. This briefing collates the key issues raised during the interviews. It identifies good practice for those working with people who have been homeless for a long time and have mental health support needs. The briefing also examines how to prevent long-term homelessness by working effectively with people experiencing mental distress.
Briefing
Impact assessment of screening elective patients for MRSA (5th December 2008)
The policy objective is to reduce the risk of infection for MRSA, and ultimately the number of infections, by screening elective inpatients for MRSA.
Impact Assessment
A Mine of Opportunities. Local Authorities and the regeneration of the English Coalfields (27th November 2008)
This report looks at ten years of regeneration of England's former coalfields. We find they are a story of renewal and growth with local authorities and their partners deserving much of the credit. Regeneration actions have made significant progress on greening mineworkings, building new homes, roads and commercial sites, and creating jobs, but some people have been left behind. National and European funding has supported this transformation and continued national funding is important. The remaining problems in the coalfields of bad health, poor school results, poor motivation and low skills - that create barriers to employment - will require innovative actions by councils and their partners.
Report
Summary
LASSL(DH)(2008)3: Adults’ personal social services: distribution of single capital pot and specific capital allocations in 2009-10 and 2010-11 (26th November 2008)
This letter informs local authorities of the confirmed distribution for 2009-10 and provisional distribution for 2010-11 of the Social Care and the Mental Health elements of the single capital pot. The figures were previously published in LASSL(DH) (2007)3 and this circular confirms the 2009-10 allocations, including those for the new unitary authorities. Details of the allocations, by local authority, are provided in Annex A to this circular. This letter also contains confirmed 2009-10 and provisional 2010-11 allocations to local authorities of specific capital grants. These can be found in annexes C and D.
Circular
LASSL(DH)(2008)4: Adults’ personal social services: specific revenue and capital grant allocations and contributions to Area Bases Grant for 2009-10 and 2010-11; Children’s services: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services contribution to Area Based Grant for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (26th November 2008)
This letter is issued to local authorities to confirm both their adults’ Personal Social Services (PSS) specific revenue and capital grant funding and the Department of Health’s contributions to the Area Based Grant in support of social care policies, including children’s PSS funding insofar as this is provided by the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) contribution. Details of individual funding stream allocations (where these are available), and a brief description of each area, appear in the relevant annexes. In addition to CAMHS, the funding streams in support of Carers and Local Involvement Networks (LINks) contributed by the Department of Health are intended to support both children and adults’ services. It is therefore important for this circular to be brought to the attention of those responsible for children’s services.
Circular
Beating the ‘baby blues’ in Surrey (5th December 2008)
The weeks and months following the birth of a baby can be a difficult time for new mothers. But a scheme in Surrey is helping women beat the ‘baby blues’ by encouraging them to take part in organised ‘buggy walks’.
Information
ARTICLE - Rates of preterm birth following antenatal maternal exposure to severe life events: a population-based cohort study (9th December 2008)
Stress in the six months before conception increases the risk of giving birth prematurely research suggests. This study found that Mothers who experience a death or serious illness in the family before falling pregnant are more likely to have a preterm baby.
Article
A third or fourth degree tear during childbirth - Information for you (November 2008)
Patient information, published by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information
Chickenpox in pregnancy: what you need to know (November 2008)
Revised patient information published by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information
Impact assessment of Directive 2007/47/EC, Council Directive 90/385/EEC, Council Directive 93/42/EEC, Directive 98/8/EC (3rd December 2008)
Impact assessment of European Directives relating to medical devices.
Impact Assessment
Medical Research: What’s it worth? Estimating the economic benefits from medical research in the UK (21st November 2008)
This report is the outcome of a one-year study commissioned by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust to compare the economic benefits accruing to the UK from UK publicly and charitably funded medical research with the cost of that research. The results emphasise that the estimates of the rates of return need to be treated with caution. The limitations of available data, questions around methodology and issues raised by the analysis identify some key elements for the future research agenda in this area.
Report
